Piano key connection



June 7, 1938. A. H. MORSE PIANO KEY CONNECTION Filed Aug. 24, 1936 AZTHUE h. MORSE Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE PIANO KEY CONNECTION Application August 24, 1936, Serial No. 97,519

6 Claims.

In small upright pianos of a height of forty inches and under it is necessary to have part of the piano action below the level of the keys, which necessitates an action and connection to the key 5 that is much different from the conventional piano action.

The object of my invention is to provide a connection between the piano key and the wippen of the piano action in a small upright piano that will have a minimum of friction and be easy to regulate.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a view of the piano action and key when they are at rest.

Fig. 2 shows the action and key when the key is depressed.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the wippen showing the slot in which the link is pivoted.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the link.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the bell crank.

Fig. 6 is a modification of the link.

For clarity there are shown only certain parts essential to this invention, such as a key I which is pivoted on a balance rail 2 and an action consisting of a wippen 3, jack 4, let-off button 5, back check 6, catch 1, flange rail 8, butt 9, hammer l and damper l l associated with a string I2.

As the action is placed partly below the level of the key I, a link I3 and bell crank M are provided to connect the key I with the wippen 3. The bell crank I4 is pivoted on a rail l that can be connected to the flange rail 8 by brackets, not shown.

The link I3 is pivoted in the slot N5 of the wippen 3 at one end and straddles the bell crank [4 at the other end. The link shown in modified form in Fig. 6 can be hooked in suitable holes in the wippen 3 and bell crank l4.

On the key I is a capstan screw I! set to engage the bell crank I4. When the key I is depressed at the front end the capstan l'l raises the one end of the bell crank l4 causing link l3 to raise the wippen 3 which in turn operates the other action parts in the same manner as in a standard action.

Modifications in shape may be made but what 45 I claim as my invention is:

1. In an upright piano, a horizontally disposed, intermediately pivoted key extending in a forward-rearward direction of the piano; a rail located above said key near the rear end thereof;

50 a bell crank, pivoted on said rail, disposed so that one of its arms is substantially horizontal over said key so as to be moved from underneath by said key in a playing motion thereof, and the other arm of said bell crank is substantially vertical; an action located behind said key at least partly below the level thereof, including a hon zontally disposed wippen below the level of said key; and linkage connection between the vertical arm of said bell crank and said wippen, whereby a playing motion of said key operates the said action.

2. In an upright piano, a horizontally disposed, intermediately pivoted key extending in a forward-rearward direction of the piano; a rail located above and behind said key; a bell crank, pivoted on said rail, disposed so that one of its arms depends behind said key and the other arm extends forward substantially horizontally over said key so as to be moved from underneath by said key in a playing motion thereof; an action located behind said key at least partly below the level thereof, including a horizontally disposed wippen below the level of said key; and a link connecting the depending arm of said bell crank and a free part of said wippen, whereby a playing motion of said key operates the said action.

3. In an upright piano, a horizontally disposed, intermediately pivoted key extending in a forward-rearward direction of the piano and including a regulating screw attached to said key so as to extend upwardly therefrom near the rear end thereof; a rail located above and behind said key; a bell crank, pivoted on said rail, disposed so that one of its arms depends behind said key and the other arm extends forward substantially horizuntally over said key to bear solely by pressure on said regulating screw; an action located behind said. key at least partly below the level thereof, including a horizontally disposed wippen below the level of said key; and a link connecting the depending arm of said bell crank and a free part of said wippen, whereby a playing motion of said key operates the said action.

4. In an upright piano, a horizontally disposed key extending in a forward-rearward direction of the piano, a bell crank, movable on a pivot near said key, disposed so that one of its arms is substantially horizontal so as to be moved by said key in a playing motion thereof, and the other arm of said bell crank depends from said pivot; an action located at least partly below said key, including a horizontally disposed wippen below the level of said key; and a link connecting the depending arm of said bell crank and a free part of said wippen, whereby a playing motion of said key operates the said action.

5. In an upright piano, a horizontally disposed, intermediately pivoted key extending in a forward-rearward direction of the piano; a bell crank disposed so that the free end of one of its arms is located above the rear end of said key so as to be moved from underneath by said key in a playing motion thereof, the said arm extending rearwardly from its free end to a stationary pivot, and the other arm of said bell crank extending from said pivot downwardly behind said key; an action located behind said key at least partly below the level thereof, including at a lower level than said key a wippen pivoted rearwardly on a stationary pivot so as to extend forwardly therefrom; and a link connecting and movably pivoted to a forward part of said wippen and the lower end of said downwardly extending bell crank arm, whereby a playing motion of said key operates the said action.

6. In an upright piano, a horizontally disposed, intermediately pivoted key extending in a forward-rearward direction of the piano; adjusting means on said key near the rear end thereof and including an upwardly exposed portion; a bell crank disposed so that the free end of one of its arms is located above the rear end of said key so as to bear solely by pressure on the said upwardly exposed portion of the said adjusting means, the said arm extending rearwardly from its free end to a stationary pivot, and the other arm of said bell crank extending from said pivot downwardly behind said key; an action located behind said key at least partly below the level thereof, including at a lower level than said key a wippen pivoted rearwardly on a stationary pivot so as to extend forwardly therefrom; and a link connecting and movably pivoted to a forward part of said wippen and the lower end of said downwardly extending bell crank arm, whereby a playing motion of said key operates the said action.

ARTHUR H. MORSE. 

